9 June 2004
Heavy fines for misleading information
Two men have received heavy fines for giving false information to the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F).
The men who both work for a Redcliffe seafood processing company, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court recently to providing false and misleading information to a Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) officer.
One man was fined $2000 with no conviction recorded. The other was fined $3000 and ordered to pay a further $1500 in professional costs. Again, No conviction was recorded.
QBFP field officer Graham Shield said the fines sent a strong message to people not cooperating with QBFP officers.
“The men deliberately gave me wrong and misleading information while I was investigating a separate fisheries-related matter,” Mr Shield said.
“Not cooperating with inspectors who are investigating fisheries offences is taken very seriously by the Courts and the Department and these fines reflect that.”
Mr Shield said fisheries resources belonged to the community and the QBFP relied on the public for support in helping to protect fish stocks.
“Most of the time people are great and help us with our inquiries but every now and then we meet some resistance,” he said.
“The bottom line is rules are in place to protect and conserve fisheries resources to ensure that they will be around for current and future generations of Queenslanders.”